FIRST WORD
AND, IN THE WORDS OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, WE STAND UNITED under noble banner blue in the land of freedom, hope and glory.” Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
Nadi student Afrah Nazim was praised by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday for speaking her mind.
Afrah who is in Year Six at the Nadi Muslim School was asked a question in front of her fellow mates, teachers and visitors. Mr Bainimarama was officiating the school’s new 12-classroom block when he asked the student to go forward and stand beside him. The PM said during the Fiji Day 50th Independence commemoration, a simple question was asked to all on what made Fiji special.
“To celebrate the great potential of the young people of this country, this Fiji Day, we asked the students of Fiji to answer a simple question: “What makes Fiji special?” “We had over 700 responses from around the country, including many from here at the Nadi Muslim Primary School, and I thank all of the students who participated, and the teachers who supported their contributions. “One of our submissions came from Year 6 student Afrah Nazim. Afrah, if you are here today,” he said.
In her message, Afrah told the Government that one of the many reasons Fiji is special is because people are free to follow their own religion. The PM said, “She’s right. Thanks to our Fijian constitution, we are a secular state.
“Afrah also told us that regardless of our differences, Fijians support each other through good and bad times alike. And, in the words of our national anthem, we stand united under noble banner blue, the land of freedom, hope and glory.” Mr Bainimarama also congratulated the school management for making the 12-classroom block a reality through their own fundraising. He also thanked the Fiji Muslim League on the latest demonstration of their commitment to Fiji’s education revolution.